The Republic of Burundi accuses Paul Kagame's country of being "a bad neighbor," harboring rebels responsible for several attacks on Burundian soil, particularly the latest one perpetrated on Christmas Eve, which resulted in 20 civilian deaths, according to Burundi.

"The Minister of the Interior announces the closure of borders between Burundi and Rwanda as of this Thursday," a Burundian media outlet reported. "We have noticed that we have a bad neighbor, President Paul Kagame," declared Minister Martin Niteretse during a meeting with administrators from Kayanza, one of the 18 provinces that make up Burundi.

In this standoff with its neighbor, Burundi is not just closing borders. The country of Evariste Ndayishimiye has decided on the expulsion of Rwandan citizens who are not complying with immigration and are living on Burundian soil.

For its part, Rwanda believes that this "unilateral" decision by Burundi will violate "the principles of regional cooperation and integration of the East African Community [EAC]." Kigali also thinks that it will restrict the free movement of people and goods. "The Government of Rwanda has learned through the media about the unilateral decision by the Government of Burundi to again close its borders with Rwanda. This regrettable decision will restrict the free movement of people and goods between the two countries and will violate the principles of regional cooperation and integration of the East African Community," Kigali reacted.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame is accused by the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as by the United Nations through the UN expert group on the situation in the DRC of supporting the M23 rebels who destabilize the eastern part of the DRC. Until 2019, the same Paul Kagame was in conflict with his traditional ally, Uganda. This conflict had led to the closure of the borders between the two countries. The DRC, for its part, has limited itself to expelling the Rwandan ambassador accredited to Kinshasa, Vincent Karega.

Dido Nsapu